(15 September 2015) As the opening of the 2015 Rugby World Cup draws closer, all things rugby are gaining favour with visitors to the South African marketplace bobshop.co.za, eager to browse through thousands of rugby-themed items listed on the site.

"There is a definite trend on Bob Shop that takes its cue from the World Cup countdown", says Bob Shop CEO Jaco Jonker. "Rugby jerseys are among the top 30 most searched terms on the site, which is higher than it has been for a long time".

When it comes to actual purchases, many buyers are opting for Springbok jerseys, with prices ranging from about R200 to about R700.

However, rugby-related memorabilia and collectibles are an even bigger hit than jerseys. Shoppers are prepared to pay R250 or R350 for sets numbering between a dozen and a hundred photographs of rugby players and teams. Tickets and programmes from games played long ago are fetching decent prices too: a 1951 South Africa vs. Cardiff programme went for R225, while a 1978 Currie Cup Rugby ticket found a buyer for R150. Signed biographies and autobiographies of rugby players, old rugby magazines, bobble heads in the likeness of rugby players... all found eager buyers.

The most expensive rugby memorabilia recently sold on Bob Shop included a R6500 framed jersey signed by current Springbok Centurions; a R2279 Webb Ellis Rugby World Cup Trophy replica; and a R1800 framed limited edition Springbok rugby home jersey from the 2007 World Cup.

"At the moment, we have over two thousand items in the rugby sports memorabilia section, plus hundreds of rugby-related collectibles listed in other categories", says Bob Shop CEO Jaco Jonker and adds: "In a few short months, when the 2015 World Cup becomes history, we expect a new surge in rugby memorabilia listings. As for prices, they will probably depend on how well the South African team fares."